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(UPDATE) Nintendo of America has released an official press release regarding the content for North America. Turns out North American fans will be getting the content a bit cheaper, as the pricing will be $7.99 each, or $11.99 for both. The content will be available for pre-purchase starting tomorrow, celebrating the 22nd anniversary of Super Mario Kart’s release. Pre-purchasing both packs will gain access to the Yoshi and Shy Guy color variations right away. It also confirms that there will be courses themed after the Legend of Zelda and Animal Crossing franchises. Release windows are also the same as Europe’s, with the first pack dropping in November, and the second one in May of next year.

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According to a listing on Nintendo’s UK Store website, Mario Kart 8 will be getting more content, which is always a good thing. For the first time ever, a Mario Kart game will be getting new tracks added to the selection, as well as new characters and karts as well. This news comes just before the Mercedes-Benz kart DLC drops this week. To be accurate, this is only announced on the UK website, as Nintendo of America has not made and official announcement yet. It’s likely that this content will be released internationally, but for now, we won’t confirm anything for North America.

On the site, it lists that there will be two packs, each containing three characters, four karts, and eight courses. What makes this DLC interesting is that it seems to be bringing in content from some of Nintendo’s other franchises. Among the new karts is the return of the Blue Falcon of F-Zero fame, which had a fun little appearance in Mario Kart Wii. Eagle-eyed viewers may also have noticed that among the new courses will be an F-Zero themed track, as well as what looks to be an Excitebike themed course. Wario’s Gold Mine also seems to be making a return from Mario Kart Wii, showing that the courses will likely have both a mix of new and retro tracks.

Perhaps the most interesting inclusion however, is the new characters. Earlier this year, we suggested characters that should be in the roster of the game, and surprisingly none of those suggestions are being added, unless you count one from the comments. Instead, we will be getting Tanooki Mario, Cat Peach, as well as Dry Bowser, all from the Super Mario franchise. I say that because the other three characters will be Link of Legend of Zelda fame, as well as Animal Crossing’s own Villager and Isabelle. It’s likely that there will be a Legend of Zelda themed course as well as an Animal Crossing one, though no images have surfaced of that so far. Nintendo UK detailed a rough schedule for the release of the two packs, and what’s included.

November’s DLC pack will include Tanooki Mario, Cat Peach, and Link, as well as four karts and eight courses that are to be determined. The second pack is scheduled to be released in May of next year, which seems like a rather long wait from the first pack. This pack will include Villager, Isabelle, and Dry Bowser, as well as another set of four undetermined karts and eight courses. For people who buy both packs, either bundled or separately, Nintendo will be giving players eight color variations of both Yoshi and Shy Guy. Both packs are £7.00 each, which roughly equals about $12 for each pack in American currency. Keep in mind, that this is still just UK information, so it’s very possible that the way Nintendo of America delivers this content will be different. We’ll keep an eye out for official information as it gets announced.